HARLOW Council is trialling a scheme which aims to help people in the Netteswell area insulate their home.

The new energycare scheme is offering reduced costs for installing cavity wall and loft insulation for homeowners and private tenants, meaning you could reduce your annual heating costs by up to 60 per cent.

Energycare forms part of the Government's Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) scheme, which is funded by energy companies, and is offering grants to substantially reduce the cost of insulating homes and is free to people in receipt of certain benefits or are aged 70 or over.

Environment and community committee chairman Eddie Johnson said: “Harlow Council recognises that local people need help to cope with the rising cost of living and the energycare scheme follows on from other similar schemes we've run in the past, which encourage people to make their homes more energy efficient helping to reducing their heating costs.

"The new energycare scheme is being trialled in the Netteswell area of the town as our research has identified that this ward has a high proportion of households likely to be suffering from fuel poverty.

“The scheme is likely to be expanded to other wards if it uptake is good."

For more on the scheme, ring Harlow Council's environmental health team on 01279 446111.